Sunday, 30 August 2015

WHAT ARE ROOTSTOCKS?

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shopA rootstock is part of a plant, often an underground part, from which new above-ground growth can be produced. In grafting, it refers to a plant, sometimes just a stump, which already has an established, healthy root system, onto which a cutting or a bud from another plant is grafted. It is most commonly used in the production of rose bushes and fruit trees.

Rootstocks are used to create trees of differing vigour. Trees are grafted onto rootstocks which results in different sizes and type of trees. Rootstocks have also been used for pest and disease resistance, anchorage and to crop trees.

Apples have the greatest range of rootstocks, most with the prefix M or MM and a number. The refers to East Malling Research, Kent where they were bred, and MM for Malling/Merton where work was carried out with the John Inness Research Institute. The numbers follow no particular sequence.Most pear trees are grafted onto quince rootstocks as these are more dwarfing and easier to propagate than pear rootstocks.